Hair dryer



Aug. 20, 1968 R. E. PETRICK 3,397,464

HAIR DRYER Filed Dec. l5, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [77% I? for: ussell 2-: Fe frz'c/r HAIR DRYER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

United States Patent 3,397,464 HAIR DRYER Russell E. Petrick, Park Ridge, Ill., assignor to Bretford Manufacturing, Inc., a corporation of Illinois Filed Dec. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 514,246 Claims. (CI. 3499) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An improvement in so-called table model hair dryers wherein the supporting base is provided with a plurality of cosmetic receiving compartments and wherein a bonnet of the type having a series of alternately inwardly and outwardly directed annular frusto-conical sections is provided with a reinforcing member on the interior thereof for mounting a supporting bracket on the bonnet. Also, the telescoping, supporting standard for the bonnet is pivoted to the base for movement between a storage position and a bonnet supporting position.

This invention relates to hair dryers and more particular-ly to a novel table model hair dryer.

Hair dryers in general are categorized into floor model, table model and portable hair dryers. Typically the floor model hair dryer is provided with a standard which supports the hair dryer bonnet elevated a sufficient distance above the floor so that the user may merely sit in a chair. Generally the portable hair dryers include a soft plastic cap connected by hose to a member which carries the motor. These dryers must be carried about or held by the user. The table model hair dryers generally are mounted on a short standard held on a base which in turn must be held on some sort .of a supporting surface to give the desired elevation so that the user may sit in a chair and enjoy. the use of the dryer.

This invention is particularly concerned with improvements in a table model hair dryer. Most such dryers are relatively heavy and cumbersome and the motor, fan and heating element are mounted in the base of the dryer. In addition, some ducts or channels must be provided to conduct heated air from the base to the bonnet of the dryer. With such dryers, no provision can be made in the base for storageof cosmetics which may be used in conjunction with hair drying operations. In addition, some such dryers are relatively ditficult to set up into *an operative condition and to disassemble and place in storage condition.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved hair dryer.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a new and improved table model hair dryer wherein the hair dryer base is free of any heating element and motor means for driving the fan, and of any ducts for supplying the warm air-fromthe base to the bonnet.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved table model hair dryer wherein the base may also be used to store cosmetic accessories.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved table model hair dryer having a novel connecting means between the standard and bonnet for facilitating insertion 'and removal of the users head from the bonnet.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved table model hair dryer having a novel support and reinforcing means for a molded plastic hair dryer bonnet.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved table model hair dryer having a novel means for securing the hair dryer bonnet to the base to hold the bonnet and base assembled in the storage or inoperative condition.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partially broken elevational view showing the hair dryer of this invention assembled in the storage or inoperative condition and showing cosmetic accessories held in the dryer when so assembled;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the hair dryer in an extended or operative position;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the hair dryer base of this invention;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the hair dryer shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 66 of FIGURE 5 showing the novel reinforcement plate utilized with the hair dryer of this invention;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken along the line 88 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the bracket and rod support member in assembled relation in one position relative to each other; and

FIGURE 10- is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view similar to FIGURE 9 showing the bracket and support member in a second position relative to each other.

The hair dryer 10 of this invention includes a base 12, a bonnet 14 and a standard 16 for holding the bonnet in elevation relative to the base. Preferably the standard is a telescoping member similar in structure to (but shorter in length than) that described in the copending application of Edward J. Petrick entitled, Telescoping Standard, Ser. No. 401,801, filed Oct. 6, 1964, now Patent No. 3,265,346, and assigned to the assignee of this invention. The standard and bonnet are provided with a novel means 18 for connecting the standard to the bonnet for limited movement relative to each other.

Preferably the bonnet is similar to that shown and described in the copending application of Horst Genger, Ser. No. 439,561, filed Mar. 16, 1965, now Patent No. 3,335,503, and assigned to the assignee of this invention. In general, the bonnet includes a motor chamber 20 and a fan chamber 22 and may be provided with a handle means 22a secured to fan chamber 22 for carrying the hair dryer about when it is in the storage or inoperative condition shown in FIGURE 1. The hair dryer chamber or bonnet 24 is molded from a suitable plastic so as to be shape-retaining, but slightly resiliently deformable. The bonnet is of one-piece construction and is a bellshaped or ovoid member which is made up of a plurality of frusto-conical sections such as outwardly directed frusto-conical sections 26 and inwardly directed frustoconical sections 28. The diameter of the aforementioned frusto-conical sections differs to provide the generally ovoid configuration of the bonnet so that the bonnet first diverges outwardly and downwardly, there is provided with a generally ring-like portion of substantially constant outer diameter and then converges inwardly toward the open bottom.

The interior of the open end of the bonnet is pro vided with a reinforcing ring 29 of relatively stiff metal or similar material. This ring lies at the intersection of the last outwardly directed frusto-conical section 28 and the next adjacent inwardly directed frusto-conical section 26 and provides a means for reinforcing the plastic bonnet when in the assembled storage or inoperative condition to aid in maintaining the upright posture of the bonnet as well as providing rigidity in the bonnet to facilitate locking the bonnet to the base.

The hair dryer of this invention is provided with a novel base 12 including a top member having a generally wide-angle frusto-conical configuration defined by the top surface 30a. Preferably, the top member is formed of a generally light, easily moldable material such as a substantially rigid plastic or the like. Further included in the base is a bottom member 32 which is secured to the underside of the top member by suitable fastening means such as screws 32a. Preferably the bottom memher is a plate of a durable material such as steel or the like to atford stability and weight to the base sufficient to support the hair dryer in the position as shown in FIGURES 2 and 5.

The base top member 30 is provided with a depending annular skirt which forms a side wall 34. The upper portion of the side wall 34a is slightly beveled inwardly as indicated in the drawings. An annular bonnet receiving groove 36 is formed in the base top member 30 spaced slightly inwardly from the side wall 34 for receiving the open end of the bonnet when the hair dryer is assembled in the inoperative condition. The groove is of a sufiicient width and depth to accommodate the inwardly and outwardly directed frusto-conical segments at the open end.

A locking means 38 is provided for holding the bonnet in the groove including a pair of plungers 40 each having a shaft 42 extending through aligned openings 43 in the base top member and into the channel 36. Each plunger shaft 42 also extends through an opening 44 in a leaf spring 45 which spring engages the shaft 42 so as to normally bias the plunger 40 so that the free end of the shaft 42 is within channel 36. In such a position, the plunger abuts the upper surface of the inwardly directed frusto-conical section 26 just above the annular reinforcing ring 29 (FIGURE 7) to prevent axial withdrawal of the bonnet from the base. The bonnet may be released from its captivation with the base by withdrawing the plunger shafts against the action of the springs 45, as shown in the dotted outline view of the plunger in FIGURE 7.

The base top member 30 is also provided with a plurality of article storing cavities such as 46a, 46b, and 46c which are formed as depressions in the top surface 38. These cavities may be utilized for storing cosmetic articles such a hair spray 48a, hair rollers 48b, and finger nail polish 48c, respectively. These cosmetic receiving cavities may be provided without adding to the vertical extent of the dryer base because the heating element, motor and fan are located in the hair dryer bonnet and not in the base as is the case with most other similar hair dryers. It is to be noted that the bottom of each of the several cavities is very closely spaced from the bottom member 32 of the base. Furthermore, these cavities include a pair of cavities 46b which are large, a pair of cavities 46b which are large, a pair of cavities 46c which are relatively small, as well as a center cavity 46a for receiving a relatively large elongate container, such as a hair spray container or the like. Thus the several cavities provide a convenient means of storing cosmetic articles which may be used in conjunction with, or perhaps simultaneously with, hair drying.

The base top is further provided with an opening 50 for the standard 16. The base plate 32 has a pair of upwardly extending spaced ears 52 and a pivot pin 54 extends between the ears and through the standard 16 to mount the standard for pivotal movement with respect to the base between a rear-over-center position, as shown in dotted outline in FIGURE 5, and a forward-over-center position, as shown in full outline in FIGURES 2 and 5.

When standard 16 is extended and pivoted to the forward- I over-center position, it supports the bonnet in a forwardly and downwardly oriented attitude for reception of a users head. When standard 16 is retracted and pivoted to the rear-over-center position, the bonnet may be assembled on the base in a storage condition, as shown in FIGURE 1. Preferably the lower portion of the standard has a rectangular configuration as shown in the drawings so that abutment of the corners of the ends of the standard with the metal plate 32 in combination with the location of pivot pin 54 limits the pivotal movement of the standard to avoid damaging contact with the side of the opening 50 in the base top member 30.

The novel mounting or connecting means 18 between the standard and the bonnet includes a bracket or cradle 56 on the end of the standard, a support member 58 on the outside of the bonnet as well as a reinforcing member 60 on the interior of the bonnet. Bracket 56 is a generally U-shaped member having a flat, elongate bottom 62 and spaced upright ears 64. Each of the cars is provided with a notch 66 at its top edge and a groove 68 on the inner face of the ears extending downwardly from each notch and terminating in an aperture or opening 70 in each of the ears.

The support member 58 is generally L-shaped in outer configuration having an upright back 72 and a laterally extending bottom 74. The back 72 and bottom 74 are so related that the exterior angle between them is slightly more than 270 degrees. Between the back and bottom, there is a stepped portion as indicated by the outline of side wall 76. Spring-loaded pins 78 extend outwardly from each of the side walls 76 of the stepped portion. These pins may be digitally compressed to insert support member 58 between the ears of bracket 56 and, when aligned with the openings 70 in the cars, will spring outwardly through the openings to pivotally and detachably connect the bonnet to the standard. The notch 66 and groove 68 at the top of each ear facilitate prealignment of the pins with the openings 70.

The stepped portion of the support member 58 includes a top wall 80 and a front wall 82 which forms an interior angle with the top wall of slightly less than degrees so as to generally matingly engage with the frusto-conical portions 26 and 28 of the bonnet and support the same in a cradled relationship, as shown in FIGURES 2, 5, 9 and 10.

As can be seen in these figures, the support member 58 is secured to the bonnet 14 in the lower portion where the bonnet tapers inwardly. The stepped configuration of the back 72, top wall 80, front wall 82, and forward portion of bottom wall 74 matingly conform to and abut the frusto-conical sections of the bonnet so that the bonnet is held at an angle suitable for reception and withdrawal of the head of the user. When the standard 16 is tilted forwardly to the operative position, as shown in FIGURE 2 and in full outline in FIGURE 5, the bonnet axis is about 60 degrees to horizontal.

The mounting or connecting means 18 is preferably constructed to afford a lost motion connection between the free end of the standard and the bonnet, so that the bonnet can be pivoted through a limited arc of travel without moving or pivoting the standard 16. This limited movement of the bonnet free of standard movement facilitates the entry and removal from the bonnet of the head of a person using the hair dryer. To this end, the support member 58 is formed from an upright back 72, a laterally extending bottom 74 with a pair of side walls 76 turned upwardly from bottom 74. The stepped portions or side walls have a configuration such that each is nestingly received between an adjacent pair of frusto-conical sections to assist in giving spaced support and stability to the bonnet when in operative position.

When the pins 78 are in the apertures 70 of ears 64, the bottom 74 of support member 58 is spaced upwardly from the bottom 62 of U-shaped bracket 56 to afford the lost motion between the bonnet and the free end of the standard. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 9, the bonnet may be rotated through a limited angle until the rear end of bottom surface 74 abuts the adjacent bottom surface 62 at which time a space 84 is opened up between the two surfaces. When the standard is shifted to the full line position as shown in FIGURE 5, thereby throwing the weight of the bonnet to the right of the drawings, the support member 58 will pivot relative to the bracket 56, until a central portion of surface 74 abuts bottom surface 62, as shown in FIGURE 10. Thus, although the pin and slot arrangement between the support member 58 and bracket 56 affords a pivotal connection between the two, this pivotal connection is limited by engagement between the bottom surfaces 62 and 74.

Reinforcing member 60 is preferably a plate-like member of sheet metal or the like having a first generally elongate flat central body portion or bridge 86, an upper offset inclined end 88, first lower offset inclined end portion 90 and second lower oflset inclined end portion 92. The reinforcing member 60 is secured to the bonnet at its upper offset end and to the bonnet and support member 58 at its first and second lower offset inclined ends by means of rivets 94. The central body portion 86 spans or bridges the intermediate portion of the bonnet wherein the frustoconical segments are relatively narrow in extent to a point where the upper offset inclined end may generally matingly engage a frusto-conical segment 28 of the outwardly tapered upper portion of the bonnet to provide a relatively large surface against which portion 88 may be abutted. As seen best in FIGURE 5, the frusto-conical section 28 and offset end portion 88 are generally perpendicular to horizontal and thus the forces transmitted through the central body portion 86 are absorbed in the bonnet mounting across the top-to-bottom span of the frusto-conical sections.

At the lower end, the offset inclined end portions of reinforcing member 60 generally mate with the configuration of the stepped portion of the support member and the frusto-conical sections, of the bonnet in this area which are inwardly directed toward the open end so that inclined end portions 90 and 92 are generally parallel to horizontal. The intermediate portion 98 which joins the body portion 86 to inclined portion 90 as well as intermediate portion 100 which joins end portion 90 to inclined end portion 92 are both generally vertical to horizontal when the bonnet is in the operative position as shown in FIGURE 5.

This invention provides a novel table model hair dryer affording a base structure which is adapted to accommodate cosmetic accessories, which may be easily set up for use as well as placed in a storage condition, and has a novel supporting and reinforcing structure utilizing the bonnet configuration to best advantage to maintain the bonnet properly oriented in suitable hair drying position without causing undue wear on the bonnet structure itself.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A portable hair dryer, comprising: a supporting base having an upper surface constructed and arranged to receive and store cosmetic articles; a hollow bonnet having at one end portion an electric motor, fan and heating element, and provided at the other end portion with an opening, the opening and interior of the bonnet being of a size to accommodate the head of a person when in operative position and to enclose the upper storage surface of the base when in storage position; means for detachably securing the bonnet to the base in storage position; an upright standard secured to the base and having an upper free end, the standard being pivoatlly joined to the base for limited swinging movement, outward swinging movement positioning the standard to receive the honnet in operative position, and inward swinging movement of the standard facilitating the removal of the bonnet from the head of a person using the same and disposing the standard in an upright position so as to be enclosed by the bonnet when the bonnet is placed in storage position; and mounting means for detachably securing the bonnet to the free end of the standard in operative position.

2. In a portable hair dryer including a supporting base, an upright standard secured to the base and having a free end, a hollow bonnet having an electric motor, fan and heating element at one end and an opening at the other end, the opening and interior of the bonnet being of a size to accommodate the head of a person when in operative position, the bonnet being formed of plastic material and comprising a series of alternately inwardly and outwardly directed annular frusto-conical sections; mounting means for securing the bonnet to the free end of the standard including a reinforcing member positioned on the inside of the bonnet, said reinforcing member having opposite offset end portions abutting in faceto-face relationship with the inner surfaecs of the spaced frusto-conical sections, and having a central span extending across intermediate frusto-conical sections so as to spread the force applied to the bonnet when the bonnet is secured to the free end of a standard.

3. A portable hair dryer as specified in claim 2 in which a pair of spaced stepped portions are provided on the mounting means, the stepped portions being shaped to nest between an adjacent pair of frusto-conical sections to give spaced support to the plastic bonnet in operative position in cooperation with the reinforcing member.

4 .A portable hair dryer, comprising: a supporting base having an upright standard with mounting means on the free end thereof for detachably securing a bonnet to the standard in an operative position, a bonnet having an electric motor, fan and heating element at one end and an opening at the other, the opening and interior of the bonnet being of a size to accommodate the head of a person when in operative position, the interior of the bonnet including spaced frusto-c-onical surfaces; means for detachably securing the bonnet to the base in storage position; and mounting means for securing the bonnet to the free end of the standard including a reinforcing member positioned on the inside of the bonnet, said reinforcing member having opposite offset end portions abutting in face-to-face relationship with the inner surfaces of the spaced frusto-conical sections of the bonnet, and having a central span extending across intermediate frustoconicla sections so as to spread the forces applied to the bonnet when the bonnet is secured to the free end of the standard, and a pair of spaced ears on the free end of the standard having apertures therein and spring-urged plungers in the bonnet mounting means, each of a size to be received within the apertures of the ears for detachably securing the bonnet to the standard.

5. A portable hair dryer as specified in claim 4 in which the mounting ears are provided with guide portions to facilitate the positioning of the spring-urged plungers within the apertures of the spaced ears.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,330,048 7/1967 Rogers et al. 34-99 3,006,078 10/1961 Parker et a1. 34-90 3,058,231 10/ 1962 Romito 34-99 XR 3,267,587 8/1966 Niemiec et al 34-99 FREDERICK L. MA'ITESON, JR., Primary Examiner.

A. D. HERRMANN, Assistant Examiner. 

